declark Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Just replaced the first set of color cartridges on our Epson C86 and cannot get it to squirt magenta or yellow. I've tried several cleanings with the Epson utility which has proved useless. I've tried cleaning the cartridge piercing stud in the print head which seemed to look crusty on the two colors that are a problem using isopropyl alcohol. That didn't work either. I would consider returning under warranty, but I'm sure I've voided it due to using 3rd party black ink (which works fine). I don't use the printer that frequently and I am now learning that pigment inks tend to clog more readily than dye based ones, if that's the case I'm going back to a dye inkjet (I know... dyes don't last long, but my family doesn't use the printer for anything that has to last, just kids' school projects that only need to survive long enough to get a grade). Thanks in advance for any ideas that you might be able to share. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zee Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/178 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffOwen Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I sent my Epson back under warranty because of similar problems. I had been using non Espon inks but replaced the cartridges with Epson before returning it for repair. No problem,it was returned with the system fully working. I continued using Epson inks but a few months later the same thing happened to the yellow ink. This time it was out of warranty and no matter what I did I could not clear it. I now use the more expensive HP printer where the jets are attached to the ink cartridge and if necessary can be taken out and cleaned by careful wiping. Unless you use the printer every few days the inks dry in the jets and no matter what cannot be cleared. I would not buy an Epson unless you are using it every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulrich_michel Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 A friend and I did a "sience" project a while back on two back alley found C82. while one printer after 3weeks printed exellent, the other went gruadually down hill to complete clogging, even with the use of those special approved print head cleaners. The mistake that killed the good revived unit was leaving the cartriges out ( wile swaping back and fort on the other unit) and allowing the print head and the cartrige to accumulate dried crud. The other problem apeared from bubles inside the cartrige system wich caused ink feeding problems. the moral of the story: When swapping cartriges its important to immediatley seal the port on the cartrige taken out and not leave the nipples of the print head exposed to air for any time. Store the cartrige in its upright position, not laying flat. Ohh yea, we did a post mortem on those print heads and it's amazing the complex and intricate system that makes it work. Good luck, Michel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtk Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I don't know C86, but my two year old 2200 stays on for weeks at a time, between uses. Very dry climate. It's never given a moment's grief..no sign whatsoever of clogging. Of course, we all know the non-pigment inks are death on these pigment machines, with the arguable exception of MIS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emre Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 It's worse the other way: pigment ink in a dye printer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_noble Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I work at cartridgeworld and i have to debug printers as part of my job. To me it sounds like the heads have dried up. When did the ink run out? Have you tried a different set of cartridges (just in case the breather hole is damaged or blocked)? If the heads are blocked it'll be a tough job on an Epson (heads on cartridges are much easier to unblock). To get it repaired will cost a bit but much easier to do than taking apart and haing a bash yourself (considering how much it costs). I use a chemical called "nozzle rocket" to clear dried heads. Its probably just some bog-standard cleaning fluid relabelled which works a treat. Plus, how are they going to know you've used 3rd party inks? They arent going to check up on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfcole Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Once you get your Epson going again, it's going to.....clog up again. So just get a HP 8750 and you'll never have to think about clogs again. The inks are rated at 108 years. None of my ink has yet been used for cleaning cycles--it goes on the paper where it's supposed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr._smith Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 So just get a HP 8750..." Scott, HP printers are not without theirs problems. 1- For longevity, you're stuck with HP brand papers and are sucked into a captive market. While paper technology is now moving away from plastic, HP papers are plastic based. 2- Pizza wheel tracks on prints have been a problem 3- High cost of operation. Some have reported $5. per print for A3+ size. 4- Prints are easely smudged with any kind of dampness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtk Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 It's hard to imagine HP staying in the photo printer market with the present technology...they're a pretty good company otherwise, and their shareholders wouldn't want them playing third fiddle behind Epson and Canon (or Canon and Epson). I think serious imagemakers appreciate that the C86 is a throwaway, ultimately, and they understand that the toss-date is accelerated by using non-Epson pigments. Nice printer, otherwise. The paper choices available to Epson are fabulous. I've got B&W prints on a dozen different fine papers by a dozen different photographers (via print exchanges), all Epson 1280, 2200, 2400, C86 etc...the paper and the operator's skill are more important than the printer IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith_wright1 Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 This was a question I wanted to put to John Noble who said he'd worked at Cartridge WOrld and these used Nozzle Rocket cleaning fluid. I have just bought some nozzle rocket and I wondered if I could get some advice from John on how to use the fluid to unclogg my C86. Thanks Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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